Fly trap



May 11, 1943. D. H. RoBlNoT ETAL FLY TRAP Filed April 26, -1941 I N VENTORS.

Patented May 11, 1943 FLY TRAP David H. Robinot, 'New York, andAlex'Weil,

Jamaica, *NL

Application Aprilac, 1941, seriatNa 390,460

(o1. 4s-e114.) Y

14 Claims.

`This invention relates to insect extermination, and more particularlyfor devices for trapping or catching insects, .particularly flies.

:One of the objects of this invention'is to provide a device of theabove-mentioned character that will be of simple and inexpensiveconstruction and assembly and that will be of dependable `and :efficientaction in use. Another object is to plO- vvide a device of theabove-mentioned character that can be constructed in relatively smallform, .that will be neat, clean and attractive inappeare ance and thusavoid the .unsightliness and other disadvantages of many devices, suchas stickygfly paper or ribbons, now principally availableon the market,and that can be readily placed in a Wide variety .of locations.

Another object is to provide a device of `the above-.mentioned characterin which unsightliness and like disadvantages of knowndevicesmay-bevclependably overcome and in which, in contltastto such know devices,attractiveness and uniqueness of appearance are achieved in a Waythat:Wilkenlarge its use or application inplaces or locations, for example,in a show Window or show case .clis- -playing food products, whereheretofore known expedients, rsuch asiiy paper, either arenot at allemployed or, if employed, are unsightly and distasteful. Another objectis to provide a flytrapping device in which certain functional elementscan be made to'provide, or add to, :attractiveness, cleanliness orneatness of appearance.

Another object is to provide a device of the above-mentioned characterso constructed as to Vfacilitate manufacture, assembly, replacement ofparts, cleaning and the like. Another objectiisto provide a device ofthe above-mentioned character in which a luring or attractiontheretoofies may be achieved in a simple, dependable and `,ei-

-cient manner. Another object is .to vprovide a device of theabovementioned character in which eye-appea or attraction of ies by useof their sense of sight may be eiectively utilized. Another object is toprovide a'device of the abovementioned character in which luring theretoof 4flies-by their sense ofsmell and by ytheir sense of sight may bebrought about Withgood veliect and ,in a simple, compact attractive anddependable structural manner.

Another object is in general to provide van improved fly-catchingdevice, and .to provide a/device capable of Wide application inpractice. `Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed ,outhereinafter. Y

The invention accordingly consists-inthe features of construction,combinationsfof elements,

section being :taken Aon line 3-3 QiEaurexZ- ;Eigureflfis atop plan.View ,offabafile insert used in the cor,istrnctOlfl of Figures 1 ,"2,and

Figure :5 -isa1 horizontal sectional v ievvI ora mod- --icd form Of'this invention, the section being takennn line 5- 5fof Figure 6.

figure 16j; is -a lvertical Osectional View as seen alongthe line li-BofEli-eure 5.

Figure??Eisqa-topplan'viewof a haineinsert used in the modified rforrnof Figures 5 aI1dI-6; and

:Eignre isa vien/ similar to 'Figure 7 and nshowinganother -inodied formoffbaffle-insert, a part' thereof .being brokenaway. Referring -ingreater detailto the drawingand more particularly to Figures :1-3, thefly-trap or lure `iS preferably vof ,casing-like for box-like i con--struction, illustratively four-sided, and fit Iis prefera-bly imade .upof allori/erspart il. andan upper part s; the lowerpart ichas-a-bottom-ornooi n havingextendingupwardlyatright angles there- `romfourfside wallsild, |5, I;6.and jl- T Whichmay, ifi-desired, teamedintegran with meeneem I l. The Lippenpart 9 ycom-prises a top Walliorcover :I2 having textending downwardlytherelfromatright angles fourwalls, 3l', 32,133 and 3 4 Whichymamif desired, be formed integrally"with the toplwall I2 and which, fwhen Vthe 'top Dart ,-9 isfassembledto the :lower part v l,ll,take Lovervthe upper sides of the walls 4 4,IE, lG-and I 1, in a mannersimilargto that cfa conventional box.' An`leyelet t8 issecured to theloor V-Irl into Whichmay be engaged a nail,hook or other desirablezfnd suitable `object by Vmeans Aof which thetrap may bie; esduspended t rom ,a `wall or ,othersurfacel if de- The;top VWall or covervlz isprovided--with an opening 35 4vvlfiich ispreferably' circular-.and centrallyvpositionedfas appears better fromFigure' 2 .anawactir1e with .the mening es isaftaiie mm.' laber 29zsuitably supported 4within the closed housmg andprefcrahly supported ftheflower casing part I and in spaced relation to the bottom or oor IIfor supporting the baille member 29 in one form, we provide a secondarywall element I9 which is glued or otherwise secured to the inner face ofthe walls I4, I5, I6 and I'I. As better appears in Figure 2, the wallelement I9 has four portions or secondary walls, one for each of theside walls of the casing part I0, being identified in the drawing by thenumerals 20, 2I, 22 and 23 respectively. Each of the secondary walls isprovided, near its upper edge and substantially centrally, with ahorizontal slot 24 adapted tol receive the free ends 25, 26, 21 and 28,of the baf- Y fle member 29 which is made of a transparent andlight-reecting material. Balile insert 29 is illustrated in Figure 4 asbeing substantially`A square initially and provided at its four corners7 inclusive, the fiy trap has a bottom part 50 with side walls,illustratively four in number, as in Figures 1-3, and an upper part 5Iwith depending side walls, illustratively four in number, to

p uthe upper edges thereof for the reception of edge portions or freeends of the balle member, and to illustrate that the baille member maytake other forms than that described in connection with cut-outs 36,thus to leave, intervening the cut-outs, the several free end orsupport-engaging members to be received in the slots 24 of the internalor secondary wall element I9 referred to above. At its center, thebaiile may be curved upwardly to form an upright, bulbous dome 38 for apurpose to be presently described. Baille member 29 when assembled tothe lower casing part I0, thus has its dome 38 substantially centeredwith respect to the casing and, as'shown in Figure 3, the top fof thedome 38 'preferably vfalls in the region of the plane of the cover ortop wall I2 when the upper casing part 9'is put in position;l top wallor cover I2,'being provided, as above noted, at its center with thecircular opening 35, becomes positioned above the plane of the flatportion of the bale member 29 as better 4appears in Figure 3, the spacebetween the two being peripherally closed by the'walls of the lower partI0. VThe opening is preferably proportioned relative to the domeSli-substantially as shown in the drawing, from which it will be seenthat the dome has a wide range of visibility through the opening 35, andbeinglight-reecting, appears brightin'comparison to other parts and thusattracts flies by their sense of sight. It will also be notedV (seeFigures 2 and 3) that the relationship of these two parts provides anentry lpassageway into the above-mentioned space between the top wall I2andthe flat portions of the Vbaille 29, for the entry thereinto offlies, while the cut-outs 36l (Figures 4`and r2) provide passagewaysfrom that space into the lower interior andv hence into the spacebetween the baiile member `29`and the bottom or oor II of the housing.

Below balile member 29 and hence in the space between the latter and thebottom I I, we provide suitable means to lure or attract the flydownwardly through the passages formed by the cutouts- 36, and such ameans preferably functions by way of its odor to lure the ily byitssense of smell; thus, for example, with its bottom resting on oor II ofthe housing, is a dish or cup-like member 39 made of paper orother-suitable material for containing a suitable lure substance; thusthe member 39 at its upper surface, maybe Yprovided with a layer or coat49 of odorous ma-l terial, 'its odor being such as is tract illes.

calculated to at- As appears clearly from Figures 2 and 3,-the

container or member 39 may conveniently bein general of circular shape,fitting in between the -four side walls of the housing structure, withits lbottom 42 resting against the bottom I I, whlle vits side walls maybe of any convenient configura- `entry into the sidewall slots in amanner comparable to the Ventry of the free ends 25, 26, 21, 28` ofbaille 29 in the slots 24 of Figures 2 and 3. In Figures 5 and 6, theslots in the side walls are shown at 55, with the end elements 54 of thebaffle 53 received therein.

Another form of baille insert isfillustrated in Figure 8 where there isemployed a `baille insert 53a made of wire mesh, which may be nickelplated or brass plated or treated in any other desirable manner torender it light-reflecting. Here too, the corners are shown as beingclipped off, to provide support-engaging portionsror free ends 54a.

The container or receptacle 39 is provided with a suitable substance asabove pointed out, and this may be supplied to the' container 39, or acontainer thus provided with such a substance inserted into the lowercasing part I I, after having first removed the upper part 9 and alsothe baiile 29, whence the baiile is replaced by entering the four freeends in the four retaining slots and the cover is again placed upon thebox. The odor of the substance within the trap will attract flies, aswill the dome of the transparent and vlightreecting baiilek insert. Thebright surface of the .baiie member 29 and particularly of its dome 38in effect guides the flies, using their sense of sight, to or throughthe opening 35, andy they come to rest on the upper surface of thebaille member 29, being further lured by the odor of the substance inthe container 39. Flies will *renter the space between the baffle 29 andthe bottom II of the Vbox via the openings created by the cut-outs 36 inthe baille insert.

Reachingl the interior through the apertures formed by the cut-outs 36,as' above mentioned, flies proceed to the substance 40, being attractedthereto by its odor, and depending upon the character of the substance40, final disposition of the flies may thereupon ensue; for example, ifthe substance 4U is gummy or sticky, as is illustratively set forthabove, they become attached thereto as soon as they land or crawl` ontoit.

Should they not become disposed of 'in `thatmanhousingpart" 9", where-itnotcut away by the opening suitably overliesthese-corneropen= ings, andthus darkensthem, eiiect,A when consideredf'romV within thespacebelowthebaiiie'member 29, being' enhancedz` by the relatively largeamount of light, entering through the opening 35l in thev cover WallVl2, that is thereby concentrated upon the central'portionl or areas,including the dome 38, oi`thelbaiile member 29. As a result the nies,within the space below` the baieA 29', are guided or led, by their senseofsight, upwardly (see Figure 3)y to this central andrelativelyconcentrated areaof light, an veiect thatmay beenhanced in turn by theaction of thematerialof thebaffle member 29l and al'sobythe shape of thedome 33, upon the lightrays. Thus flies that arel still free or abletcriiyY or move around and'which seek escape, concentrate their'efforts'quite substantially to the underside of thislcentral portion ofthebaiilemember, underlying the opening 35, andwhere thebaiiie member is shapedto provide an upwardly extending but downwardly open pocket such as'theconcave interior of the dome 38, the

flies tend to concentrate in that pocket or an individual ilyconcentrates its efforts therein. And in this connection it might benoted that,

as appears from Figure 3, the walls of the pocket formed by the dome 38,progressively rising towardY or into the opening 35 in the cover wallI2', are thus in eiect brightest or oi greatest light intensity at theregion of the apex, and this effect tends to attract the fly or ies moreand more. tothe apex. Flies that drop or fall from the underside of thebaffle ceived by the cup 39. When the cup is' sufliciently full offlies, the cover of the trap is removed a's is the baille, thecup isdisposed of and another cup. substituted for it, which has prior theretoreceived a coating oiV the gummy substance; When this is done, theVbaffle and cover are. again replaced and the device is ready forcontinued use. When the device is put on the market, it may beV soldwith a collapsible'tube ofthe gummy substance which can then bereadi1y`applied.

The illustrative modifled'form of the trap differs in the balilemounting in that the retaining slots for the baffle insert arepositionedv directly in the walls of the housing. member'53'is`inserted, its free ends'5l enter the `slots in the lowercasingpart 59" and become flush with the outer'surfaces of lower part50, and when the upper part 5l with its depending side walls, is placedupon the box, it aids in rmly retaining the baffle in operativeposition.

In order to enhance the eiectiveness of the trap night er in a darkplace, it may be desir-'- able toY provide a.. phosphorescent spot inthe dome oi the baiiieV insert or anywhere else on the insert oraroundthe edges of the dome or around the circular opening oi the coveror at any other advantageous point.

Many modications not become apparent, and others will become apparent inthe course of time. For instance, the bafiie insert illustrated inFigure 4 may be made in the shape shown in Figure "I, that is to say,the baie shown in Figure 7 may be provided with a dome, and the insertsshown in Figures 7 and 8 may be made in the shape shown in Figure 4,that is to say they may be provided with free ends instead of clippedcorners, and the box may be made in other forms and not only square.Furthermore, it may be desired to paint an ornashown in the drawing thedarkening" member 29 are re;

When the baiiie mentaldesig'nor desig-nsfuponthe box, in orderstorendenit' decorative.- v

It=will be understood,l therefore, that the fore going is toberegarded`as1'llustrative and descrip:`

tiveonly oipreferred .embodiments oi the invention, and it'w-illbevclear that-changes inthe conAr` struction of the invention may bemade withinv the scope oi the appended claims, withoutv4 dee parturefrom the spirit of the present invention.

Having thus described'the invention, What is claimed as -neW- andidesiredito `secureby Letters Patent, is:` v

l. A ily-trap'comprising acasing having op posedtop and'bottomwall's,and side Walls, with. asubstantially centrally positioned opening insaidltop Wall forthepassageinto the interior ofA the casing oiinsectseandoi light, a baiile member Within said VAcasing and extendingcrosswise thereof and'spaced'intermediate of said top wall and-'- bottomwall and presenting a substantially central area thereof-'below saidopening ior receivingl light entering'the case'through said opening andother portions thereofv below those parts oi the' top" walll that extendabout said opening', said other portions being shielded by said partskof'saidf top wall against material illumination thereoff whereby' saidcentral areal receives maximum lightf through said'opening and saidother-porvl` tions of said baille-member are in contrast to said centralarea relativelydark, said central area or maximumlight of said baiilememberhaving thel characteristic of transmitting light therethrough andsaid other portions thereof that are relaA tively dark having meansiorming'a passageir insects to the space between' said'bafile member andsaid bottom Wall, whereby said passage#- iorming'means are-located in aregion relatively dark as compared to the light intensity oi saidcentra'l'area, said central area of said barile mem'-4v ber, dueto itslight-transmitting characteristic anddue to lightit receives throughsaidopening; acting by way of thecontrast to the dark region. oi saidpassage-forming means to attract insects within said last-mentionedspace away from said passage;

2. A fly-trap comprising a closed'casinghaving in a wall thereof anopening for the passage therethroughoiinsects and of light, saidopening`V being of'lesser area than said wall, means Within said@ casingand remote from said opening for supporting; an insert lure,l baiiiemeans made-"ofv a light-transmitting material interposed between saidwall and said means and sub-dividing ther interioroi said closed casinginto two spaces in one oi which is saidslure-supporting `meansand totheother oi which said opening forms an entry thereto for insects and' forthe passage oi' light rays to said baille means, said bafie means havinga conguration so that certain portions are more remotely spaced'iromsaid openingthan are other portions thereof, thereby to vary theintensity'oi light striking'said baille` means and to cause pori tionsthereof to appear, from within the space containing said lure-supportingmeans, of greater light intensity than others and thereby attractinsects thereto, and means located at portions of saidlight-transmitting baffle means that are more remote from said openingforming a passage for insects to said last-mentioned space and hence tosaid lure, the portions of said light-transmitting baille means that areat greater light inten sity attracting insects in said space thatcontains said lure-supporting means away from said passage-formingmeans.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said bailie means comprises asubstantially flat member made of said light-transmitting material, saidmember being of an extent to underlie said wall and saidopeningv,whereby the portions o f said member substantially juxtaposedto said opening are of greater light intensity and other portionsthereof that underlie said wall and are more remote from said openingare of lesser light intensity.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said baffle means comprises amember made of said light-transmitting material and having a portionjuxtaposed to said opening formed to provide a pocket opening into thespace containing said lure with the bottom portions of said pocketnearest said opening, thereby to provide said portions of greater lightintensity.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the portions of said baiiiemeans underlying said opening converge to an apex substantiallycoaxially aligned with said opening.

6. A fly-trap comprising a two-part box-like casing having two opposedwalls, one on each of the two parts, one of said walls having asubstantially centrally positioned opening for entry of insects and oflight, means in said casing for retaining a lure in the region thereofadjacent the other of said opposed Walls, a baille member forsub-dividing the interior of said casing into a space adjacent said onewall and its opening and another space bounded by said baiiie member andsaid other wall, at least that portion of said baille member juxtaposedto said opening being of a light-transmitting medium to receive lightfrom said opening and to appear, from Within said second-mentioned`space, as a relatively bright area or region as compared to theportionsv of said baiiie member underlying said one wall, the lattershielding said portions of said baffle member against materialillumination there being means at the regions of said baiile memberunderlying said one wall forming a passageway for insects from said rstspace to said second space when attracted by the lure in the latter, andmeans supporting said baiiie member within said casing. Y

'7. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which said means for supportingsaid baffle member comprises a plurality of elements distributed aboutsaid baffle member, said casing being provided with recess means forreceiving said elements of said baiile member.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which said means for supportingsaid baiile member comprises a plurality of end portions distributedabout said balile member, the side walls of said casing having slotmeans for receiving said end portions of said baiile member.

9. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which said means for supportingsaid bafiie member comprises a plurality of end portions distributedabout said baffle member, said casing having internally thereofsecondary side walls provided with means with which said end portions ofsaid baiiie member detachably engage.

10. A device as claimed in claim 6l in which said means for retaining.said lure comprises a receptacle, removably seated within said secondspace, whereby upon separation of said two-part casing, said receptaclemay be replaced.

11. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which said means for supportingsaid baiile member comprises a plurality of elements distributed aboutsaid baiiie member, one part of said casing comprising side walls andone of said opposed walls, said side walls having slot means forrespectively receiving said elements, and the other part comprising theother of said opposed Walls with depending side wall portionstelescoping over said side walls containing the slot means and ofsufficient length to close said slot means oli externally.

12. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which the portion of said baiiiemember juxtaposed to said opening is conformed to have walls convergingtoward 4an axis aligned with said opening whereby diierentportions ofsaid walls are of different distances from said opening and receivethrough the latter diieringintensities of light.

l 13. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which the portion of said baiiiemember underlying said opening is substantially dome-shaped with itsapex in the region of the plane of said one wall.

' 14. A fly-trap comprising a closed casing having opposed top andbottom walls, with baille means sub-dividing the interior of said casinginto an upper space adjacent said top wall and into a lower spaceadjacent said bottom wall, said top wall having an opening for thepassage therethrough of insects and of light and said baiile meanshaving a portion substantially juxtaposed to said opening, said portionbulging upwardly in a direction toward said opening but without closingsaid opening, said upwardly bulging portion that is exposed toward saidopening being light-reflecting, thereby to appear relatively bright andto attract insects by their sense of sight, means Within said lowerspace for holding an insect lure, means at those regions of said bafflemeans that underlie said top wall providing passage for insects fromsaid upper space to said lower space and the lure in the latter,

said upwardly bulging portion of said baiile means also having thecharacteristic of transmitting light and thereby appearing, from withinsaid lower space, brighter than other portions of said baliie means,thereby to form a lure to attract insects in said lower space away fromsaid passage-providing means.

DAVID H. ROBINOT.

ALEX WEIL.

